O'Brien's was a respectable pub. . . almost too respectable for Wesley's patronage but the titular proprietor manned his station behind the bar with efficiency and discretion. He didn't comment on Wesley's habits or drinking constitution so Wes had returned perhaps more than was prudent for a man who was attempting to get lost in the nameless, untraceable cracks of society. This became particularly evident when Wesley saw the door of the pub swing open to admit Gunn.

Gunn stood in the doorway, blinking as his eyes adjusted to the dim interior lighting. Wesley noted that this time he'd forgone the expensive suit in favor of jeans and a hooded sweatshirt.

Most likely got some particularly unsavory stain during his last harassment attempt Wesley thought. A moment later he chastised himself for the uncharitable thought. Gunn's attempts to convince him to return to L.A. were unwelcome but he knew that if the tables were reversed, he would be hounding Gunn just as doggedly. This knowledge didn't change the fact that his attempts were met with refusals that were as chilly as Wesley could make them. No matter how aimless he felt, he had no intention of ever setting foot in Los Angeles again.

Wes looked down at the glass in his hand and swirled the contents. The alcohol barely managed to dull the pain these days. Usually all he got for his troubles was dimmed emotion and a raging hangover. Nevertheless, the hope of substance-induced amnesia was better than nothing.

He detected a movement out of the corner of his eye and knew that Gunn was on his way over to his table. Wesley chose to ignore him for the time being, hoping that this might be the time that Gunn looked at him, gave up, and turned back around.

This happened every so often when he'd come to visit Wes in the past. In the midst of Gunn trying to get Wes to return, Wes would try to get Gunn to leave. Gunn hadn't ever been able to explain his staying to Wes's satisfaction. He wondered if it would be easier to explain if he was a little more convinced it was the right thing.

He shook his head slowly.

"Not everybody deals with guilt by running Wes. And not everybody finds it easy to walk away from their responsibilities. I let Fred die so I could fill my brain with legal crap, I have to try to use it. And no, I'm not asking you to work for W&H New York. I'm asking you to work against it."